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NCAA Division III grants exploratory membership to Penn College

April 2, 2013

NCAA Division III grants exploratory membership to Penn College

Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Athletics program has been approved for exploratory membership in Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, college officials announced today (April 2).

Penn College’s one-year NCAA Division III exploratory status officially begins Sept. 1. It will last throughout the 2013-14 academic year. Officials from the college will participate in orientation activities at the NCAA’s national office in Indianapolis in September.

Exploratory membership provides institutions with an opportunity to learn more about the NCAA and Division III, which comprises more than 170,000 student-athletes at nearly 450 colleges and universities nationwide.

After the 2013-14 academic year, Penn College will consider pursuing a four-year provisional membership in Division III for its Wildcat athletic teams.

“We are very pleased the NCAA has accepted the college as an exploratory member,” said Scott E. Kennell, Penn College’s director of athletics. “This is a major step forward for our institution as we look to move toward building an increasingly strong athletic program consistent with our values. We feel very strongly that our philosophies and values regarding student-athlete success, intercollegiate athletics and community involvement align perfectly with the NCAA.”

“This is an exciting development for Penn College, Wildcat Athletics and – most importantly – our students and student-athletes,” said Elliott Strickland, chief student affairs officer. “Our Athletics department, led by Scott Kennell, has done an incredible job during this process, and I think we are perfectly positioned for this opportunity.”

Penn College resurrected intercollegiate athletics in 1992 and currently fields 12 intercollegiate varsity athletic teams. The Wildcats have competed in the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) since 2004 and in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) since 2008.

The Wildcats have won the PSUAC Chancellor’s Cup four consecutive years and have placed in the Top 7 of the USCAA Director’s Cup each year of membership. Both awards are given to the most successful all-around athletic program.

Since 2004, Penn College Athletics’ accomplishments include 35 conference championships. Since 2008, the Wildcats have had 24 national tournament appearances, 48 (25 in the PSUAC) coaches of the year, 117 All-Conference selections, 357 PSUAC All-Academic selections, 41 All-Americans and 129 USCAA All-Academics.